Sitting quietly in my room, I felt someone breathing on my neck. It was him. Y’know. The elephant. The elephant represents the economy and this is the ninth in a series.
“Wassup?” I asked.
He just looked at me, mournfully.
“OK. What is wrong?” I repeated.
He had a tear in his eye.
“Hey, hey, hey. It’s not so bad”, I tried to comfort him.
“Tell me”, I pleaded. “What’s going on?”
“I’m fed up”, he said.
ME: “Well, we’re all fed up”.
ELEPHANT: “Maybe so, but you are the individual. I am the collective.”
ME: “Wow! That’s deep.”
ELEPHANT: “And if I’m fed up, we’re all doomed.”
ME: “Oh, come on. Now, you’re being a drama King.”
He sat down and stared at me, seriously.
ELEPHANT: “Do you know what’s really going on?”
ME: “Sure. We’re in Lockdown 3.0. It just goes on.”
ELEPHANT: “But do you really know what’s going on?”
ME: “Sure. The economy stinks. A bit like you.”
ELEPHANT: “But do you know what’s going on … with the people?”
ME: “What people?”
ELEPHANT: “The people who don’t count.”
ME: “Every person counts.”
ELEPHANT: “Not the ones with cancer. The ones with kids at home. The ones who cannot afford lunch or dinner. The ones who have lost their jobs. The poor and needy.”
ME: “Oh yea. Well, what can I do?”
ELEPHANT: “Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.”
ME: “You’re quoting the Bible?”
ELEPHANT: “I’m an Elephant. I remember everything.”
ME: “That’s enlightening. But what can I do?”
ELEPHANT: “Go out.”
ME: “I can’t go out. The government won’t let me.”
ELEPHANT: “No. Go out into the community. See what’s happening.”
ME: “I can’t. I’m not allowed.”
ELEPHANT: “Go out and see what this is doing to people. Normal people. People who are suffering from loss of earnings, loss of relationships, loss of life.”
ME: “I’d rather watch the news.”
ELEPHANT: “Watch.”
ME: “But that part of England has always had issues of poverty and mental health.”
ELEPHANT: “Watch.”
ME: “OK, I’m crying. You’ve done your job. But what can I do?”
ELEPHANT: “Think about it.”
ME: “I am.”
The elephant turned around and lay on the floor. I didn’t know what to say or do. Sure, I could give to charities, but I wasn’t going to go out. It wasn’t allowed.
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The bird was speaking (the bird represents the future).
ME: “You think we will come out of this stronger and better? How?”
Dah-dah-dit dit-dit dit-dit-dit-dit dit dit-dit-dah-dit dit-dit-dah dah dit-dit-dah dit-dah-dit dit dit-dit dit-dit-dit
ME: “Because we have become more resilient? More thoughtful?”
Dit dit-dit-dah-dit dit-dit-dah dah dit-dit-dah
ME: “More caring?”
Dah-dit-dah-dah dit dit-dit-dit
I thought about it. I thought about it a long time. Then I put my mask, coat and gloves on, and walked out of the house with my collection of grocery bags for life. I filled the grocery bags with as many nice snacks and foods as I could find from the supermarket, and left them at the food bank. Whoever got my groceries, I wish them well. Don’t you?
Chris M Skinner
Chris Skinner is best known as an independent commentator on the financial markets through his blog, TheFinanser.com, as author of the bestselling book Digital Bank, and Chair of the European networking forum the Financial Services Club. He has been voted one of the most influential people in banking by The Financial Brand (as well as one of the best blogs), a FinTech Titan (Next Bank), one of the Fintech Leaders you need to follow (City AM, Deluxe and Jax Finance), as well as one of the Top 40 most influential people in financial technology by the Wall Street Journal's Financial News. To learn more click here...
